There are double-ups on four clubs – AFC Bournemouth, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United – in the best team for Gameweek 28 in Fantasy Premier League ahead of Friday’s 18:30 GMT deadline.

Bournemouth goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic (£4.5m) and winger Rayan (£5.6m) entertain Sunderland in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off, while Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk (£6.0m) and Hugo Ekitike (£8.9m) host West Ham United later that afternoon.

Man City are also backed at both ends of the pitch for their visit to Leeds United on Saturday evening, with Erling Haaland (£14.8m) joined by the in-demand Nico O’Reilly (£5.0m).

Man Utd midfield pair Bruno Fernandes (£9.9m) and Bryan Mbeumo (£8.7m) feature on the following day, when they welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.

Fernandes is handed the armband, with Ekitike named as vice-captain. 

Djordje Petrovic (AFC Bournemouth) £4.5m

Bournemouth’s goalkeeper is their second top-scoring player in Fantasy over the last four Gameweeks. Petrovic has collected 25 points during that spell, combining two clean sheets with five save points and four bonus points. 

Gabriel (Arsenal) £7.1m

The Arsenal defender’s aerial threat from free-kicks and corners could be a particularly potent weapon at home to Chelsea. Since Liam Rosenior was appointed as head coach, the Blues have conceded 33 shots from set-pieces, the third-most in the league.

Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) £6.0m

A goal, an assist and two clean sheets have helped the Liverpool star collect a massive 28 points in the last two Gameweeks alone. Van Dijk is the second most-bought player, earning 347,000+ new owners ahead of favourable matches against West Ham and Wolverhampton Wanderers over the next two Gameweeks.

Nico O’Reilly (Man City) £5.0m

A recent move into midfield for Man City has transformed O’Reilly’s fortunes and made him a priority buy for managers. Listed as a defender in Fantasy, he’s scored three goals across the last two Gameweeks and has earned 363,000+ new owners – more than twice any other player apart from Van Dijk.

Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) £9.9m

The Portuguese’s home form under Michael Carrick earns him the captaincy against Palace. Fernandes has produced 10 points in all three of his appearances at Old Trafford for his new head coach and has eight double-figure hauls to his name this season, second only to the nine of Haaland.

Bryan Mbeumo (Man Utd) £8.7m

His assist against Everton in Gameweek 27 means Mbeumo is now Man Utd’s top-scoring player since Carrick took charge, eclipsing Fernandes by 41 points to 39. The Cameroonian has also been his side’s most consistent player over those six matches, blanking on just one occasion thanks to his new role up front.

Harry Wilson (Fulham) £5.9m

Eight goals and seven assists place the Fulham winger third among midfielders for attacking returns this season. Wilson’s all-round potential marks him out as a major source of value for the coming period, with the Cottagers’ home match against Tottenham Hotspur this weekend one of four matches against bottom-five opponents over the next four Gameweeks. 

Rayan (AFC Bournemouth) £5.6m

Bournemouth’s new winger has made an immediate impact since joining last month, with two goals and an assist across his four outings. Rayan’s nine shots and six chances created both place among the Cherries’ top two players during that spell, highlighting his all-round potential against a Sunderland side with one clean sheet over their last eight matches. 

Erling Haaland (Man City) £14.8m

His assist against Newcastle United last weekend means the Man City star has produced an attacking return in four successive Gameweeks and is getting back to his best following a recent injury niggle. Nonetheless, with a home match against Nottingham Forest to follow in midweek, there’s enough doubt as to whether Haaland will get the full 90 minutes to avoid handing him the armband. 

Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool) £8.9m

Liverpool’s Frenchman is one of the very best armband alternatives to Haaland for his home match versus West Ham. Over the last six Gameweeks, Ekitike’s totals of 17 shots in the box and nine big chances – situations where a player is expected to score – both place top among all players in Fantasy.

Igor Thiago (Brentford) £7.1m

The Brentford star is the most-bought forward in the Gameweek, earning 163,000+ new owners for the Bees’ trip to Burnley. Thiago scored twice in the reverse fixture in Gameweek 13 to collect 13 points, one of five double-figure hauls this season.